Big Bend Telephone was recognized by NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association, as a Smart Rural Community provider in 2015 and most recently a Certified Gig-Capable Provider for delivering gigabit broadband speeds and enabling technological innovation in West Texas communities.

SRC is a national network of communities powered by innovative rural broadband providers that are building a brighter future for small-town America. The program promotes rural broadband, and its role in supporting innovative economic development, effective education, efficient energy distribution and use, state-of-the-art health care, and other important issues for rural America. 

As a Certified Gig-Capable Provider, BBT joins a national campaign to build awareness and industry recognition of community-based telecom providers that have built communications networks capable of delivering internet speeds of up to one gigabit per second, which is 100 times faster than those currently available in many U.S. households.

“BBT has been committed to providing the best, available communications services to its customers for over 60 years. Our investment in a fiber infrastructure is another way of showing our continued growth in providing robust, scalable voice and broadband services for the next generation,” said Rusty Moore, BBT General Manager/COO. 

To receive recognition as an SRC provider, BBT was required to affirm that it offers 100 Mbps broadband to at least 50% of its service area, that it has broadband subscription rates of at least 50%, and that it is committed to program principles of collaboration and innovation.

To achieve certification as a Gig-Capable Provider, BBT showed that gigabit technology is currently commercially available within 95% of one or more exchanges within its serving territory and that such service can be provided without new trenching or stringing new aerial facilities. This statement must be confirmed by a letter from an engineering firm or other independent source involved in the company’s network planning, deployment or operation.

BBT gigabit internet is offered throughout its service territory where fiber is available. Sanderson, Sheffield, Comstock, and Langtry are 100% served by synchronous gigabit fiber internet service with Presidio scheduled for completion this year.